Why sounding “scientific” can make writing harder to read

Post 2/10 — reflections on scientific writing, clarity, and communication

A pattern I have often noticed in scientific writing is that complexity in ideas is frequently accompanied by complexity in language.

Sentences become longer. Words become more technical. Formulations become increasingly abstract.

At first glance, this can give the impression of something being rigorous or “scientific”. However, as a reader, I often find that this kind of writing slows me down. Sometimes, it even makes relatively straightforward ideas difficult to follow.

What I find particularly striking is that this happens even in areas where I am familiar with the subject.

Over time, I have started to wonder whether this tendency is, in some sense, backwards.

Because when I think about the clearest scientific writing I have encountered, it does not feel complicated. It feels precise. And often, surprisingly simple.

One idea that has helped me reflect on this comes from Steven Pinker’s The Sense of Style:

Good writing is not about sounding smart.
It is about making the reader feel smart.

This is, of course, easier said than done. In my own writing, I often catch myself reaching for more advanced words or longer sentences, as if this would somehow improve the text.

More often than not, it has the opposite effect.

Instead of clarifying the idea, it obscures it.

Interestingly, this tension between sounding impressive and speaking clearly is not unique to scientific writing.

In Stoic philosophy, a similar distinction is made between the Sophists and the Stoics. The Sophists were known for their rhetorical skill and their ability to impress through language. The Stoics, on the other hand, emphasised speaking plainly and describing things as they are, without exaggeration.

I find that distinction surprisingly relevant when writing.

These days, I try to ask myself a simple question while writing:

Am I trying to impress the reader, or am I trying to help them understand?

This small shift in perspective has, at least for me, made writing feel both more honest and more effective.

As before, these are not rules, but simply reflections that I have found useful in my own work.

PS: The image was generated by AI.